Fears over new wave of violence in CAR

(Vatican Radio) The new wave of violence between Christian and Muslim groups in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) is causing fears that the volatile nation could be slipping back to the dark days of widespread sectarian violence in 2013 and 2014.

The unrest has intensified doubts about whether the country can hold elections before the year-end as planned. It also raises concerns about the upcoming visit to the CAR by Pope Francis, scheduled in late November as part of his pastoral visit to Africa.    

Thibaud Lesueur is an expert on the CAR for the International Crisis Group, an NGO committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict. He was interviewed by Susy Hodges.

Listen to the interview with Thibaud Leseuer of the International Crisis Group: 

Lesueur has visited the CAR at regular intervals and said he believed the international community “should be very worried” about the deteriorating situation in the volatile nation. He said people in Bangui are “very scared” and fear a return to the dark days of late 2013 and 2014 when thousands were killed in widespread sectarian violence.

Lesueur said this intercommunal violence also shows very clearly that sectarian tensions between Christians and Muslims are still very much alive and security needs to be restored as soon as possible. He noted that the local Catholic Bishop and the Imam in Bangui have both made great efforts to defuse tensions and says if Pope Francis is able to visit the nation as planned he could play a valuable role by “calling for reconciliation” between the warring groups.